There is no topic that raises my blood pressure more than the one pictured above.
It is the War in Afghanistan and the question is: “Why in this election year is no one talking about the war and our mounting casualties?” Nothing, I repeat, nothing makes me angrier. So if this piece suddenly stops in mid-sentence kindly call 911 because it means I finally blew a gasket and here is why.
On Sunday morning we recorded ABC This Week with George Stephanopoulos. Near the end of the show, George typically posts on screen a list of our best and bravest military service members who have given their all during the past week in Afghanistan.
Yesterday’s segment included about 12 names of the deceased. Now predictably, every week it is at that point in the show when I spring off the couch, flee the room and yell: “I can not watch this, I can not look at their ages. Why are they dying? What are they dying for? Why are we still there? Why is no one talking about this?”
Will someone in Washington PLEASE try to answer these questions?
How about you folks in the mainstream media taking a short break from asking Mitt Romney to release this old tax returns and focus instead on asking our leaders about this drip drip drip of needless deaths? (For example, there were 36 in May, 42 in June, 29 in July and so far in August there have been at least 6.)
Now, as predicted, I am about to blow a gasket and must stop writing, but quickly before I do, here is a link to the official list of casualties.
Look at their names, look at their ages. Why is no one talking about trying to end this endless, useless war where these brave, young volunteer patriots are dying in vain?
No one seems to know why we are still there. Perhaps that is why Obama and Romney, as well as officials in both parties running for reelection, are neglecting to mention the war in their campaign ads and speeches.
But every month it is drip drip drip, with more deaths and countless broken bodies and even more with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) which is a ticking time bomb from within.
Truthfully, if our nation had a draft, there would be protest marches in the streets (instead of Occupy Wall Street) and our elected leaders would be held more accountable for the monthly casualties.
Furthermore, with a draft in place, Americans would force their leaders to take action by either offering up realistic explanations as to why our mission in Afghanistan is vital to our national security interests or voters would demand their leaders take the necessary steps to end this war now.
Could it be the war drags on because these brave solders are volunteers and generally tend to be from the nation’s lower socio-economic strata? It is my bet that if the monthly casualties were more representative of the sons and daughters of the upper classes who rule this nation, then the War in Afghanistan would be more of a hot button issue this election cycle.
Instead, the war is ignored by our leaders, the media — and especially by our Commander in Chief — who is too busy commanding his reelection campaign and his Organizing for America troops to answer the questions I ask every Sunday when I flee the room in anger.
Now more than ever, since Afghanistan is being completely ignored this election cycle, my heart goes out to the families of the fallen who are left asking those questions for the rest of their lives.
This piece is dedicated to them.
I have supported Afghan and Iraqi wars–supported them then, and through today–as necessary to secure the U.S. from Islamic terrorism. But if our policy is to bug out and let both countries go to hell (and that DOES appear to be the official Obama policy), then bring them home now.
The answer to your question is, in my opinion, a partisan one: Because we have a Democrat in the White House.
If a Republican were in the WH at this time, Cindy Sheehan and the “anti-war” left would be screaming “Nazi!” and “Hitler!” I put “anti-war” in scare quotes because they’re not anti-war…they’re anti-war waged by Republicans when they need a campaign issue.
I reacted like you at the time but have since realised that we were fooled. Republicans and Democrats are the same in this respect. Don’t forget Bush and “New Left” Blair were complicit in this deception.
Just like Clinton and conservative governments in Europe agreed to side with the muslims against our Christian brothers in Serbia, assist Iran (!) in shipping arms and ammo into Bosnia and air-bombing Belgrade.
These wars have nothing to do with protecting our countries from Islamic terrorism. If we were serious about doing so we would be addressing the question of the muslim invasion of our own countries, where we now have millions of potential terrorists just biding their time.
Real question is why is this so ? what is the real goal of these policies ?
You know I almost starting writing about that but I decided not to be there. Totally agree with you that if there was an R in the White House the anti-war forces would be going nuts.
Exactly!!!
It is a shame that these casualties being hushed; we know that our troops are dying triple what it once was. No clock count on the daily news, it almost appears that the lives of our men and women in uniform don’t matter anymore.
The man in the white house called ‘obama’ will never held accountable for these high casualties but, he should.
Not only do they fight with one arm tied behind their back, but also ‘indoctrinated’ that these savages are ‘noble’.
And we wonder why at some point one of them snaps?
It’s the “good war?”
It’s Obama’s war?
Males are expendable? (Would be nice if the casualties were sorted by sex, since politicians constantly remind us that now its our guys and gals that go into harms way, but they look to be mostly male KIAs to me.)
The stretcher looks the same as we used in Vietnam, I wonder if the place smells like shit too? Oh, I forgot, it’s an election year.
Yes some of the litters used are of the same style used in VietNam, but there are some more advanced (lighter, more complact) versions out there. This is a not so recent stock photo. We haven’t worn the ACU style uniform in Afghanistan for a few years now. Today it’s all moli-cam.
And from personal experience, yes the base at Kandahar smells like shit. In fact there is a large open sewage pond right in the middle of post that ensures it. The smaller post where I am stations smells better, but the dust gets into everything
You are in Afghanistan now? Please describe the morale among the troops. Do they feel they are forgotten in this election campaign? How are you coping?
Thank you for your service God Bless You!
Thank you for responding and confirming my suspicions: there are certain constants in warfare, like the smells (cordite and shit), “friendly fire,” and stupid officers and free condoms that never get used. But I was wondering how the new volunteer army copes in a booze and whore free zone so as not to upset Muslim sensibilities? I mean, do you troopers really give a rats ass if you burn a Koran? I mean, we didn’t have the Internet and couldn’t call home for a year, the pay and the flak jackets sucked, but the mail was free and there was booze and whores and free penicillin for the “clap” and you didn’t have to worry about a Kit Carson scout (former VC or NVA) shooting you in the back. And, in retrospect, LBJ at least had the decency not to run for re-election when he knew he had blown it. But when you’re twenty years old it’s amazing what you can put up with, until you decide not put up with it anymore. Does the army use gender neutral “piss tubes” in Afghanistan? (The ubiquitous metal powder bag containers we all stuck in the ground to piss in) Apparently the new navy love boat is removing the urinals and calling those new latrines (heads) gender neutral. Amazing. Apparently the modern males aim has improved when it comes peeing in the navy.
It’s been my opinion that we should have gone into Afghanistan after 9/11. I somewhat supported the Iraq campaign since we all knew it would lead to that anyway. My support ended when we let both countries base their new constitutions on sharia. As soon as we allowed that, the wars were unwinnable. Even after leaving Iraq (because they can protect themselves) they immediately start killing each other. first they kill the non-muslims, then the shia/sunni killing starts anew. Sharia is incompatible with democracy. Quit trying to win hearts and minds and just make them quit attacking us.
When we went into Iraq, the taliban and al qaeda scooted over to pakistan to reside and fight in relative safety. the appropriate response (IMHO) should have been follow them, and chase them across pakistan until we crushed them between us and the Indian army on the other side. Problem solved.
When we defeated Japan in 1945, we told them that under no cirmstances was the constitution to mention shintoism, emperor being deity or anything else other than freedom of religion. Since then, thriving world leader with a free and prosperous social and economic lifestyle.
Since that time, it’s been U.N. rules of engagement, and containment and appeasement.
Either fight to win or don’t go. It’s not our job to bring democracy to people that don’t want it. Win the war, let someone else try to win the hearts and minds.
We went into Afghanistan before we went into Iraq, and I think within days of 9/11.
I know it’s painful, but they’re dying overseas fighting as a distraction to buy just enough time for their CinC to look like he’s doing one thing while he permanently deep sixes both the Constitution and economy at home and organizes a New al Qaeda Brotherhood into revolutionary allies on several fronts surrounding Israel. That covert relationship is in full bloom now and won’t suddenly vanish with some Syrian peace announcement tomorrow.
When our troops come home it will just be to face more painful circumstances where they will probably be taking more casualties seizing weapons from other veterans the regime has classified as terrorists for clinging to everything American (a dangerous mental illness sign). The fear really is that they might become pro-Constitution community organizers, so they will need to be disarmed or eliminated.
This is the rotting elephant carcass on the floor of the JCS Tank that no one wants to notice. But since the elephant is bright red and with a big yellow hammer and sickle on it, so you can be sure the generals know it’s there. They certainly have smelled the stench of communism before. Now they’re soaking in it.
http://pjmedia.com/tatler/2012/08/06/defense-interior-departments-to-develop-renewable-energy-projects-on-defense-lands/
Finally!!
As the father of three active duty soldiers, one of which is in Afghanistan, one of which is preparing to deploy to Afghanistan, and one just came home from Afghanistan, I can tell you that I am stunned by the actions of our politicians and media. It’s as if nobody, except military families, gives a rat’s ass that we are sending our sons and daughters to fight a war WITH NO MORAL SUPPORT.
As a retired military officer, I understand my fellow citizens are worn out from the wars. I am sick and tired of the stress and worry myself. But the fact of the matter is that our servicemen and women are there, in our name, and we should demand our government either fight this war to win, OR BRING OUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS HOME. Right now! Before another life is wasted fighting for people WHO DON’T APPRECIATE THE GIFT OF FREEDOM they are being given.
I am particulary pissed out at our sorry excuse for a Commander-in-Chief. Have you ever seen him comfort a young widow? I guarntee you the media would show that, if it ever happened.
I weep for our country. Obama should be impeached over his handling of this war, and nobody does a damn thing.
I looked up the fatality figures for US and coalition troops, and there doesn’t seem to be too much change from the prior year’s months. A slight uptick for US fatalities in May and July but a drop in June as for most months for quite some time.
http://icasualties.org/oef/ByMonth.aspx
I know casualties for Afghan troop have risen substantially, but this probably has to do with far more Afghan troops now on patrol (and pushed to the front to actually do the fighting).
As for whether we leave Afghanistan in a perpetual state of war, I hope not. However, they certainly have been anything but gracious hosts to coalition troops, and I really don’t feel much sympathy for them for that reason.
My inner Machiavelli tells me it might be just fine that a perpetual state of war will keep the Taliban and al Qaida occupied for eternity in a death clutch with the Afghan government over a God forsaken piece of land in the middle of nowhere. For the terrorists it will always be so close but so far, constantly being bled of men and money. And while the Taliban will probably control certain limited territory, they”ll never be a threat to rule the country again. The Afghanis are wise to them now.
I know nobody is keen on this war that has lasted so long, but we DID accomplish our most important goals: the Taliban are out with little chance of getting back–we’ve killed tens of thousands of them, taken their country from them, and have massacred their leadership; bin Laden is dead along with almost every last one of those involved in 9/11, and al Qaida is a shadow of its former self.
In my opinion–and with due respect to the fallen–not too bad.
Would you sacrifice your son this week?
If not mine . . .
But like everything else, if I knew my son would die: no. But then I wouldn’t let him ride a bike if I knew he was going to die doing so either.
Currently a US soldier stands less than a 1:200 chance per soldier per year of dying in Afghanistan–granted far riskier than riding a bicycle but also far more important.
So if my son chose to serve, yes, I would give it my blessing.
I used to listen to my local NPR station every morning. I know. I know. But it plays classical music all day long. When Bush was in office, they’d give war ‘news’ and a body count every hour on the hour with the regular news. The moment Obama was sworn in they stopped. For a regular listener, the change was glaring and their intent was clear.
I’ve been upset for a long time about any of our troops there under ROE that incur more casualties on our troops directly and indirectly.
Since we’re pulling out soon anyway (and probably leaving the job unfinished, coming to little or nothing) should we pull out ASAP, is that your question?
“Good news and success was always attributed to the King, the blame for bad news was assigned to faceless bureaucrats who were swiftly beheaded to appease the masses”
As many of you are aware, I am a retired E-8 infantryman with two tours in Douchebagistan. I went to 24 countries during my 22 1/2 years in the U.S. Army and this is truly the dysentery-infected rectal canal of the entire world without a shadow of a doubt. We have shed too much priceless American blood, from some of the finest young people our country has ever produced, for very limited results. We achieved what we set out to accomplish and it is beyond time to bring them all home.
If we deem it necessary to support them with materiel and/or intelligence, fine, but not one more American needs to sacrifice his or her life to support the corrupt, anti-American Douchebag government. Hell, they have almost as many Moslem Bruthahood radicals in their government as we do in ours and they HATE US AND WANT TO KILL US! How many times do we have to allow our sons and daughters to be massacred by Douchebag ‘police officers’ and ‘soldiers’ before we realize the TRUTH. We are trying to win the hearts and minds of a culture that wants to dominate the world and subjugate all non-moslem peoples through force aka: sharia law.
We have no more legitimate military objectives and the people will NEVER love us no matter what we do to help them. NEVER. No matter how hard we hope, no matter how many schools and hospitals we build, these people are too ignorant(literally), culturally repressed and brainwashed from birth into hating the Great Satan by an evil cult disguised as a “religion” that the world knows as islam. We are trying to change 1,400 years of anti-moslem infidel hate in 10 years. Anyone who thinks we will miraculously get these people to suddenly love us are living a pipe dream.
Bring our people home now……and thank them.
Good comment First (or Master) Sergeant. We had a mission there in 2001/2002. By the end of 2003, that mission was accomplished and we should have been on the way home. Instead we started moving in heavier units, making the same dumb mistakes the Russians did.
Beyond me why we are propping up Hamid Karzai and his family of thieves.
What a horrible waste of blood and wealth.
no disrespect meant for our brave soldiers, but it is a fact that most fo our military, and a good sized majority of our vet’s can’t stand the sight of our forger in chief. if you are staging a coup the best place for an army that hates your guts is far, far away, and fully deployed there.
don’t think so? look at just a few of his actions:
hundreds of executive orders doing bad stuff like declaring the u.s. a battlefield. declaring those of us here potential terrorists. gave himself the power of arrest w/o due process. just today he wants complete control of the internet. drones over us. coincidence my arse. this fool is planning a coup.
I totally agree, we need to get out of there, right now. Here’s my suggestion: Rapid withdrawl of all troops and contractors, leaving no US citizens in the theatre. As they exit, they should destroy all improvements made and paid for with our money and blood. Then, as a parting gift, we should napalm all of the poppy fields in Douchebagistan. They like the stone age, let them live it.
I served in a drafted army from 1969 to 1972. Believe me, you don’t want to go there.
First, your supposition that the sons and daughters of the nation’s elites would be among the drafted, isn’t supported by history. It didn’t happen in past wars, and it wouldn’t happen now. The “movers and shakers” will always find a way to keep their offspring out of it. That’s why they are called “movers and shakers.” No a drafted army is composed of people who are too poor, too stupid; or too unlucky to matter to the elites.
Second, serving in a draftee army is pure hell. Seventy to eighty percent of your fellow troopers don’t want to be there. And they find all kinds of ways to make that clear, including goldbricking, shirking their duty, cutting corners. Do you want such people watching your back?
Third, a return to the draft will be accompanied by a surge in crime in the ranks. Since the elite will find ways to keep their kids out of the war-time military, a draft will, by necessity, include petty criminals just to keep up the numbers, and meet the quotas. Remember, we’re talking government here.
Finally, a draft will cheapen the service of those who join of their own free will and will discourage professional warriors who believe they have been called to protect their nation. Who among them want to lead unwilling, recalcitrant men into battle? I know I wouldn’t.
I do agree that a national draft would capture the attention of millions of Americans who now couldn’t care less about the war. It would also mean a return to the street and campus riots of the 60s and early 70s. Who wants to see that again?
To put a point to this, I remember my college years when the campus was shrouded in a fog of tear gas and the anti-war crowd marched hither and yon, declaring how war is morally wrong, how we had to “fight the man” because war is simply beyond the pale, how it is “unhealthy for children and other living things.”
Then the draft ended. The anti-war signs put away. The war in Vietnam still raged on, but somehow, the anti-war marchers no longer took to the streets. All those fine, morally superior chants no longer voiced. Then it hits you, these guys weren’t against the war, they were against getting drafted and having bullets shot at them.
“…because these brave solders are volunteers and generally tend to be from the nation’s lower socio-economic strata?”
Be careful, you’re perpetuating a stereotype. People serving in the American military are not hapless “victims” or “in the military because they can’t find a job.” Many of them are Reservists, and are on-leave from important jobs in civilian life.
If you read their interviews and obituaries, many of these post 9/11 soldiers, SEALS and Marines are educated, accomplished and motivated people. Most seem to be from the Middle Class and join the military to challenge themselves and defend their country.
You can criticize American policy in Afghanistan – we’re supporting a fairly corrupt regime – but please be careful when you characterize the Americans serving there.
Your photo is from Iraq, not Afghanistan. There are no palm trees in Afghanistan.
No one’s talking about it because there’s a Democrat in the White House and this was supposed to the “good war.” And Republicans aren’t dealing with it because no one seems to know how to admit to the public–which, I believe, by and large and across the political spectrum no longer supports the war–that our goals are unrealistic and therefore, unattainable.